FAYETTEVILLE — A construction crew working on a new dormitory severed an underground highvoltage line Monday morning, cutting power to much of the University of Arkansas’ Fayetteville campus.
The power failure lasted about an hour. UA spokesman Steve Voorhies said power was off temporarily inabout 30 buildings, disrupting classes for some students and faculty.
“It happened about 9 [a.m.] but power was back to almost all of the buildings by 10 [a.m.], and a few minutes later on to everybody,” Voorhies said.
UA staff members sent a text message to students alerting them of the power failure and posted the information on Facebook.
Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for facilities, said workers cut the underground line while working on the construction of Founders Hall. The future dormitory on McIlroy Avenue is located south of Brough Commons dining hall.
Johnson said no one was injured.
“It was an underground high-voltage electrical conduit that a piece of construction equipment severed,” he said.
A repair crew worked quickly to restore power while safeguarding the workers, Johnson said.
“It takes some physical checking and takes time to get people safe,” he said. “Itcame back on fairly quickly - sooner than I thought based on what was happening.”
Many classes and laboratories were without power, but not all classes being held during that time were canceled, said John Diamond, associate vice chancellor for University Relations.
“Some faculty members had to interrupt classes because they depend on technology and other equipment that depends on electrical power,” he said. “Otherswere able to continue without there being too much disruption. Fortunately, it was confined to one hour or in many instances less than an hour.”
The campus has backup power sources but because the accident involved a major line, repairing it was the only practical way to restore electricity, Diamond said.
Johnson said the accident didn’t affect the construction project, but he lamented the inconvenience to studentsand faculty.
“We hate to do that and we do our best not to,” he said.
Several building projects are underway on campus in addition to Founders Hall, including renovations to Vol Walker Hall and Ozark Hall and construction of the Football Operations Center and Hillside Auditorium. A large, ornate gate near Old Main was recently completed.
The UA has an enrollment of more than 24,500 students this semester.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 09/25/2012